CAMPAIGNERS are urging Wirral Council to overturn its "mean-spirited" decision to withdraw lifetime gym passes for retired employees.

The Passports for Life, which gave 412 ex-staff free or discounted access to leisure centres across the borough, were withdrawn on April 1 as part of a savings blitz.

Now an action group has been formed to fight the decision and is inviting readers affected by the decision to join its campaign to re-instate the passes.

A spokesman said: "The council withdrew these passes without seeking the consent of the passport holders.

"Unsurprisingly this met with an angry response from former staff who were firmly of the view that an award for life should mean just that and only expire on the death of the holder.

"We are determined to fight this injustice until the passports are re-instated.

"The group is looking at all avenues to challenge and expose this mean-spirited withdrawal of our long-service awards.

The spokesman added: "We see this as a massive insult to the 412 passport holders who have given well over 10,000 years of combined service to the council.

"This was an award freely given within the terms of our service conditions, presented by the mayor in a ceremony.

"As such the awards were ours to keep for life. We want them back."

Among former council employees whose lifetime gym pass was taken back was Mike Garbutt, forced to retire after 34 years' service through ill-health.

The 59-year-old from Wallasey, who had worked for the authority’s parks and gardens department, was sent a letter after just nine months demanding the return of the pass.

Mr Garbutt, who has suffered two strokes, d: "When I had to retire last summer from Wirral Council after 34 years because of serious health problems I was given a leisure centre pass as a retirement gift from the council.

"I thought this was very kind and would be of great benefit in helping me recover from the strokes well.

"How morally bankrupt has this council become that they are asking for retirement gifts to be returned?

"I am feeling let down and angry."

A council spokesman said last month: "Wirral Council has to reduce its spending by £28m for this coming year.

"We provide leisure services throughout the borough, which require almost £5m in subsidies to break even.

"Changes to leisure concessions were made as part of the budget setting process and were consulted widely on throughout January and February and agreed at Budget Council on March 3.

“To keep the centres financially viable and open for residents to enjoy, we are removing free access to the centres for a range of groups.

"This includes around 400 former council staff who received free access passes as part of a staff reward scheme.

"While we absolutely appreciate that this is disappointing for those people affected, we believe making these changes – which amount to in excess of £500,000 savings – will go a long way towards helping us retain a good leisure offer for Wirral residents."

Anyone interested in joining the campaign should contact norman.meddle@btopenworld.com